To say that Mayor Bill de Blasio is under a lot of pressure to reform policing in New York City would be an understatement. Among the myriad issues and complaints against the NYPD, a recent report shows that New York’s finest has arrested a disproportionate number of minorities for marijuana possession. In response to public uproar, De Blasio announced last week that the NYPD will be making major changes. First and foremost, they will no longer be arresting people for possessing small amounts of weed.
Unequal Policing in New York City
A report on “Marijuana, Fairness and Public Safety” released by the New York District Attorney’s office looks at federal and state-level marijuana policies. It highlights the persistent racial disparities in marijuana arrests in New York City and offers the police some advice.
According to District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr., 86 percent of the 16,925 people arrested for marijuana possession were people of color. This breaks down to 38 percent Hispanic and 48 percent African-American. For context, 53 percent of New Yorkers are Black or Hispanic according to a recent census.
City Councilmembers Call Out the NYPD
Back in February, the City Council held a hearing during which they reviewed these statistics and heard from the police. Looking back at New York’s history of racial policing, Councilman Donovan Richards said, “The racial disparities have not changed one bit, and arrests are still too common in communities of color.”
In defense, the NYPD argued that some neighborhoods called in more complaints than others. These led to higher marijuana arrest rates. Councilman Richards responded, “I refuse to believe that in New York City, a city of eight and a half million, that the only individuals calling 911 or 311 on this issue are